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Google has decided to cut off the Unlocked G1 phone from the newest feature of the Android Marketplace -- the ability to buy software. The reason for this is pretty simple. Since the developer G1 can get full access to the folders that store the apps, piracy is super-easy for those with the not-too-unreasonably priced phone.

It's disappointing if you ask me, and begs the question as to whether they could secure their apps with digital signatures or something with some teeth in it that needs to check in online, for example, but it also puts the Android operating system and Google partnership back into T-Mobile's court. Suddenly I don't feel so bad that I didn't switch to AT&T when I just renewed my carrier contract.

(T-Mobile in my area has pretty poor coverage overall and nobody I work with uses them after having had bad experiences. Sprint subscribers are similarly very rare in my area.)

All I know is that if I had an Unlocked G1 and was waiting with open arms on AT&T to be able to safely buy apps and be a part of the Android revolution, I would be really very upset.

See also:
T-Mobile G1 Apps for Internal Memory only, Unlocked G1 Released

Source: AndroidCommunity